28mm historical fantasy war gaming

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So my 8 point Irish war band for Saga is now well under way. A good proportion of the troops have got some paint on to one degree or another, however no one is at a finished stage yet .

Most of these just need highlighting and detailing work now followed by varnishing and finally bases flocking.

The group of slingers up on the box are a stage behind and still need an initial wash to dull them down before highlights and details.

One poor fellow is just recovering from some major re-constructive surgery on his hand as I chose to use plastic Javelins rather than the wire spears and the diameter was considerably larger making the drilling process quite hair raising! Fortunately only one casualty occurred.

So far there is 1 point of Kerns, (Levy), 12 models in a point. 2 points of Bonnachts, (Warriors), 8 models in a point. 3 points of Fianna, (Hearthguard), 4 models in a point.

The 3 points of 4 Fianna, (12 men in total), have been broken down into 2 units of 5 Fianna, (10 men in total), the other 2 will be upgraded to Curaidh, (Champions).

The second unique feature of the Irish in Saga is the ability to upgrade 2 of your Fianna (Heathguard) figures to Curadh (Champions). So these were the next figures added to my Irish war band.

Curadh act as individuals so a single figure makes up a unit. They can be mounted or unmounted. They share some of the abilities of a War Lord, although are obviously not quite as powerful. (Full rules are in The Raven’s Shadow Saga rule supplement.)

These guys came in the pack with the figure above the 2 in chain mail have served as Fianna in my interim war band. They will probably become alternative Curadh models now, as I have 3 points of nasty Dane axe wielding manics awaiting final touches, varnish and flocking on the painting table as I write ready for my all new Irish war band 😀

The chieftain in the centre has thus far only made the table as a N.P.C.

The first thing I did when I decided to start playing the Irish in Saga was purchase one of the speciality units that the Irish can field, war dogs. Initially they went on the table with my welsh forces, who were now, temporarily, subbed as the Irish, whist I built up and painted my new troops. The dogs replaced my mounted half guard in my new war band. War dogs are played as Bonnachts (Warriors) with some differences in movement and armour.

With the long movement of mounted troops, they are able to move through uneven terrain with out penalty, they do have a lower armour but if you load them up with the right dice and abilitys and the dice gods are on your side they can be devastating !

They are NOT armed with javelins! There some debate about this in saga forums. My view on this is in a proper game of saga which is a historical war game, of course the dogs should not have javelins. At most the handler could throw one once the dogs are released. However, it would be fun in a fantasy based game like Dragon Rampant to make the dogs anthropomorphic beserker warriors armed to the bloody teeth! 😀

I picked these miniatures up from Northstar Military Figures who kindly put a package together of the right number I needed for Saga.

I don’t play any Norse War Bands so this character will be a story catalyst. I’m really into the idea of multi world campaigns at the moment, with various magical practitioners opening portals into different realms, possibly even played across multiple tables of terrain simultaneously. I’m hoping this is something I can explore in Dragon Rampant if not then I guess I’ll have to start looking at developing my own rule set. I think he’d make a good wizard for a Frostgrave party also, although I already have mine set aside ready to paint.

At the foot of a towering wicker man druids have gathered to summon a dark aspect of the mighty Cernunnos the horned god. In a desperate, last ditch, attempt to drive blood thirsty invaders from their lands.

Cernunnos comes flanked by standard bearers and musicians from the realms of the dead as the druids open a door to the underworld to destroy their enemies.

In the distance astride a bear and under the guidance of Merlin flanked by some of his bravest warriors Arthur rushes to prevent them finishing their incantations and close the portal before the very order of time and space are ripped asunder !